Niterói to São Vicente is about 316 road miles (509 km): roughly 6 h 24 min at the wheel if you don't stop.
- Level 4: Do Not Travel in Brazil: informal housing developments (favelas, vilas, comunidades or conglomerados).
Full advisory: Brazil. Advisory issued: Brazil August 31, 2026; checked October 10, 2026.
On the roads, the State Department says:
- Brazil: “Road maintenance is inadequate in many areas.”
| Distance | 316 mi (509 km) |
|---|---|
| Driving time, no stops | 6 h 24 min |
| Main roads, in order | BR-101 → BR-040 → BR-116 → SPI 117/070 → SP-070 → SP-021 → SP-160 |
| States on the route | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| Fuel estimate (car at 25 mpg) | about 12.6 gal; actual use varies by vehicle and traffic |
| Stops listed below | 9 |
Driving Niterói to São Vicente: the shape of the trip
BR-116 (176 mi) and SPI 117/070 (42 mi) carry about 69% of the 316 miles. It runs through 2 states: Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo. Of the 9 stops listed below, 4 are within a mile of the road.
Which roads connect Niterói and São Vicente
| Road | Route miles (from–to) | Length, mi | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| local roads | 0–1 | 1 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-101 | 1–9 | 8 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-040 | 9–18 | 9 | Rio de Janeiro |
| connecting roads | 18–20 | 2 | Rio de Janeiro |
| BR-116 | 20–196 | 176 | Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 196–197 | 1 | São Paulo |
| SPI 117/070 | 197–239 | 42 | São Paulo |
| SP-070 | 239–255 | 16 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 255–257 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-021 | 257–288 | 31 | São Paulo |
| connecting roads | 288–290 | 2 | São Paulo |
| SP-160 | 290–315 | 25 | São Paulo |
| local roads | 315–316 | 1 | São Paulo |
- Mile 124 of this route: Rio de Janeiro → São Paulo (state line)
Where to stop on the way to São Vicente
- Right off the route (under 1 mile): Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 168)
- Nature and outdoors: Parque Shanghai (mile 14), Itatiaia National Park (mile 114), Serra do Mar State Park (mile 301)
- Museums and history: Panteão de Caxias (mile 8), Museu Militar Conde de Linhares (mile 9), Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga (mile 27), Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (mile 168), Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani" (mile 197), Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley (mile 229)
Panteão de Caxias
On Avenida Presidente Vargas in Rio de Janeiro, the Panteão de Caxias is a monument built to hold the remains of the Duke of Caxias, patron of the Brazilian army, and his wife.
Museu Militar Conde de Linhares
In Rio de Janeiro's São Cristóvão neighborhood, the Museu Militar Conde de Linhares covers military history and is named for the nobleman who accompanied the Portuguese court's move to Brazil.
Parque Shanghai
Parque Shanghai is an amusement park in the Penha neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, close to the Church of Our Lady of Penha.
Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga
Also known as Nova Iguaçu Cathedral, the Catedral de Santo Antônio de Jacutinga stands on Avenida Marechal Floriano Peixoto and is the mother church of the Diocese of Nova Iguaçu.
Itatiaia National Park
Brazil's national park system started here: Itatiaia National Park (Parque Nacional do Itatiaia) was created in 1937 as the country's first. The protected area lies on the border between Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states.
Our Lady of Aparecida Museum
Opened in 1956, the Museu Nossa Senhora Aparecida sits within the basilica complex in Aparecida. Its collection brings together regional objects, among them archaeological finds and religious items.
Museu da Imigração Italiana de Quiririm "José Indiani"
Photos, furniture, machinery and a period classroom recall immigrant life at the Italian Immigration Museum, housed in the brick Casa Indiani in Quiririm, a district of Taubaté.
Anthropology Museum of the Paraíba Valley
Ceramic vessels and stone tools are among the archaeological finds at the Museu de Antropologia do Vale do Paraíba in Jacareí, which also displays sacred art, folk art and paintings.
Serra do Mar State Park
Covering 778,381 acres of the Serra do Mar mountain range in São Paulo state, this state park protects a vast expanse of continuous Atlantic Forest.
In São Vicente itself
Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral, Santos
Also known as Santos Cathedral, Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is a Catholic church in the city of Santos, in São Paulo State, Brazil.
Itararé Beach
Itararé Beach in São Vicente fronts Santos Bay and runs 2.9 kilometers from Ilha Porchat to Canal 1, crossing into neighboring Santos.
Milionários beach
On the São Vicente coast in São Paulo state, Praia dos Milionários is known for calm water and short, narrow strips of sand.
More drives to São Vicente
- São Paulo to São Vicente
- Jundiaí to São Vicente
- Campinas to São Vicente
- Ribeirão Preto to São Vicente
- Bauru to São Vicente
- Franca to São Vicente
From Niterói to other places in Brazil
- Niterói to Petrópolis
- Niterói to Itaguaí
- Niterói to Barra do Piraí
- Niterói to Penedo
- Niterói to Guaratinguetá
- Niterói to Pindamonhangaba
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from Niterói to São Vicente?
About 6 h 24 min of driving without stops, over 316 miles.
What is the driving distance from Niterói to São Vicente?
About 316 miles (509 km) on the Wayro route. Other map services may show a few miles more or less, depending on where they start and end in each city.
What does the U.S. travel advisory say about the Niterói to São Vicente drive?
The U.S. State Department rates Brazil Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Read the full advisory before you go.
Which highways go from Niterói to São Vicente?
In order: BR-101, BR-040, BR-116, SPI 117/070, SP-070, SP-021 and SP-160. The road-by-road table above shows the route miles for each one.
Where can you stop on the way from Niterói to São Vicente?
Closest to the road: Parque Shanghai (park, mile 14, 1 mi from the route); Itatiaia National Park (national park, mile 114, 0.2 mi from the route); Our Lady of Aparecida Museum (museum, mile 168, 0.4 mi from the route). All stops are described above.
How we put this guide together
Wayro calculates the route from OpenStreetMap road data; mile numbers are positions along this route, not highway markers, and "from the route" distances are straight-line, so the real detour depends on access roads. Stops are chosen from parks, natural sites, museums, historic sites and attractions close to the route: at least one strong stop for each stretch of the drive, then the best-known places nearest the road, up to nine in all. Places that are closed, private or not open to visitors are removed. Place descriptions are written by the Wayro team from official park, museum, tourism and government websites and other published sources. Safety levels and entry rules were checked against the U.S. Department of State on October 10, 2026. Conditions change, so check the linked sources before you travel.
Route data © OpenStreetMap contributors.